4 Must-Visit Chicago Boutiques & The Fabulous Women Behind Them

Boutique shopping can be a fun way to pass time with friends or discover clothing that you don't normally come across in the typical department store—but did you ever stop and think about what makes these gems a brick-and-mortar retail success in an online world? Well, we did. Ahead, four unique boutiques in the Chicago area and the fabulous women behind them.

By: Michelle Carrico

This lovely boutique, located in the Edison Park neighborhood, is owned by four women—hence the Co-op portion of its name. This structure allows for four different styles to emerge, therefore offering a wider variety of merchandise. The owners—Pamela Olson, Karen Corriero, Carol Stephenson, and Sandra Castillo— work as a team. Corriero designs handmade jewelry that can be purchased in the store while Stephenson (a photographer) sells her photographs on-site. The foursome describe their boutique as a place where a wide variety of women can find something that suits their personal style.

By: Michelle Carrico

A go-to place to accessorize, most of the jewelry lines at Embellish are women-owned, so shopping here means you'll be supporting a variety of fierce females. Many of the proceeds from items sold by Carrie Bowers—the woman responsible for running the show at this boutique—are donated to various causes, including human trafficking in Cambodia and impoverished families in Haiti.

By: Michelle Carrico

Residing in the same location for the past decade, Kim Hiley described her journey by saying that the most important thing about being successful with her boutique has been maintaining a good price point. On top of this, Hiley frequently travels to New York and L.A. to keep up with trends and stock her store with pieces that cannot just be found anywhere else. She describes the pieces sold as trendy but still something that can be worn season after season versus being tossed aside. Hiley mentioned how there is something to be said about being your own boss and caring about every last detail—after all, caring about every detail is what makes a business great.

By: Michelle Carrico

What's so special about this Ukranian Village boutique is that in addition to running the store, owner Lesley Timpe is also a designer. After launching her brand Squasht in 2004, Timpe knew the next logical step with her clothing brand would be opening a store to sell all her creations. Currently, Squasht carries other brands that are in harmony with Timpe's own style and brand. Case in point, jewelry available for purchase is from small independent designers—about 75% from Chicago of whom Timpe has established a relationship with.